Simulated bamboo picture frame moulding machine



June 6, 1967 H. c momma-a SIMULATED BAMBOO PICTURE FRAME MOULDINGMACHINE Filed March 5, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 JNVENTOR.

I June 6, 1967 H. c. FROEHLICH SIMULATED BAMBOO PICTURE FRAME MOULDINGMACHINE 2 Sheets-$heet Filed March 5,.

Fri-355331.113

ZNVENTOR.

Eff/K 21 C, FIQOMA ZCH United States Patent 3,323,564 SIMULATED BAMBOOPICTURE FRAME MOULDING MACHINE Henry C. Froehlich, 2645 Pamoa Road,Honolulu, Hawaii 96822 Filed Mar. 3, 1965, Ser. No. 436,962 4 Claims.(Cl. 144-3) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A machine to manufacture bamboosimulated moulding, including a node cutter blade, a longitudinalgroover, a vertical cutter and a dado cutter for successively cutting awooden stock moving through the machine.

This invention relates generally to woodworking machinery. Morespecifically it relates to picture frame moulding woodworking machinery.

It is generally well known to those skilled in the art that a pictureframe moulding has been made which simulates the design of bamboo wood.Such bamboo wood, as is well known, has spaced apart raised nodes whichgive the wood its distinctive characteristic. In the past such shapedbamboo design has been hand carved in picture frame mouldings. However,such hand carving is too expensive to pursue in modern industry andaccordingly not practical.

Accordingly it is a principal object of .the present invention toprovide a simulated bamboo picture frame moulding machine wherein bamboodesigned moulding may be produced which has raised spaced apart nodesthat resemble the appearance of actual bamboo wood.

Another object is to provide a simulated bamboo picture frame mouldingmachine which is self feeding.

Still another object is .to provide a simulated bamboo picture framemoulding machine that can produce moulding wherein the nodes can bevariably spaced apart thereby producing different sizes of mouldingdesigns.

Other objects are to provide a simulated bamboo picture frame mouldingmachine that is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged inconstruction, easy to operate and efficient in use.

These and other objects will be readily apparent upon a study of thefollowing specification and the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. la and FIG. 1b in combination are a side elevation view of theinvention.

FIGS. 2a and 2b in combination thereof.

FIG. 3 is a cross section thru 3-3 of FIG. 1a.

Referring now to the drawings in detail the numeral represents asimulated bamboo picture frame moulding machine according to the presentinvention wherein there is an upper platform 11 and a lower platform 12therebeneath which are supported in elevated position upon a pluralityof vertical legs 13.

The raw stock material 14 for the final product is placed upon the upperplatform and fed from the left side toward the right.

A twelve foot extension 15 upon the upper platform serves to supportlonger lengths of stock 14. The extension comprises a frame 16 havingvertical side walls 17 upon the inner side of which a steel channel 18is supported.

The channel serves as a track within which an endless roller chain 19travels. At each opposite end of the extension there is a sprocket 20,21 over which chain 19 travels. The sprocket 21 is driven by a /2 HF.motor 22. The side walls 17 have horizontal longitudinal are a top planview slots 23 therein communicating with the channel track and a pusherlink 24 carried on chain 19 extends out of the slot 23 during itstravel. The pusher link engages the end of the stock and pushes itthrough the machine.

Spring loaded moulding guides 25 and 26 keep the movement of the stockon course. Guide 25 bears against the top thereof and guide 26 at oneside thereof holding the stock against the channel.

The stock first meets a node cutter blade 27 and a longitudinal groover28 thereafter. Both the node cutter and groover are mounted to rotateabout vertical shafts 29 and 30 respectively at the lower ends of eachof which there is a pulley 31 and 32 respectively which by means ofV-belts 33 and 34 by a 1 HR motor 36. The motor has a shaft 37 and apulley 38 mounted thereupon.

A ball bearing idler 39 engages three pins 40 on a disc -41 mounted on asprocket 42 which forms a part of the screw 43 and stop 44 regulate thedesired raise of each node. The stop 44 controls arm 45 which is hingedto provide a horizontal reciprocating movement of cutter 27 to producethe node. A spring 46 holds the arm against the stop.

An adjustable cam 47 mounted on a sprocket 48 operates a ball bearingidler 49 which in turn gives arm 50 a back and forth horizontal movementtransemitted to groovers 28, which cuts a small groove 51 between thetwo nodes and then moves out of the way to allow two nodes to pass,after which it again engages the stock for cutting another groove. Thedepth of the groove is adjustable. A spring 52 holds arm 50 against cam47.

The stock is next engaged by a vertical cutter 53 which cuts a smallslot in the center of each node as it passes by. Cutter 53 is mounted ona shaft 54 supported on bracket 55. A pulley 56 on shaft 54 is driven byV-belt 55a passing around pulley 56a on shaft 57 of the /2 HP. motor 58.A cam 59 on shaft 60 is adjustable. A lever connection at 61 givescutter 53 a fast motion to cut the slot. An up and down adjustment 62 isprovided for centering of different size stock.

All three foregoing operations are timed, and are driven by the one-halfinch roller chain powered by shaft 63 extending downward through theupper platform 11.

The stock is next engaged by dado cutter 64 which grooves out the stockfor the glass or picture. The dado cutter is provided with an adjustmentmechanism 65 for adjusting the width of the cut. It is also providedwith an adjustment mechanism 66 for adjusting the depth of the cut.

The stock is next engaged by a sander 67 which finishes the stock. Thesander is hinged for horizontal back and forth movement on an arm 68pivoted at pin 69. The sander comprises an abrasion wheel 70 mounted onshaft 71 which is driven by a pulley 72 mounted thereupon, driven by aV-belt 73 passing around pulley 74 on shaft 75 of /3 HP. motor 76.

An electric magnet 77 holds .the sander out of the way of the stockuntil the stock pushes down a switch (not shown) thus breaking theelectric current, the sander then engaging the stock. When the end ofthe stock passes over, the switch is released and the magnet pulls thesander back again. The purpose for this is that were the sander insanding position, the edge of the stock would tear the paper. Thus it istimed so that approximately one inch of stock passes over before thesander engages.

In operative use it is to be noted that the left side of the feed hasthree five foot spaced brackets where the stock to be machined can bepiled up one on top of the other. When the pusher comes along (therebeing three of these spaced twelve feet .three inches apart) it engagesthe stock end and feeds itself. The stock emerges from the opposite endof the machine as a finished product.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction it isunderstood that such changes will be in the spirit and scope of thepresent invention as is defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a simulated bamboo picture frame moulding machine the combinationof an upper platform, a lower platform, a plurality of vertical legssupporting said platforms in elevated position, feed means for feeding astock across said upper platform through said machine and a plurality ofcutter elements carried on said machine, said cutter elementssuccessively engaging said stock to produce a bamboo configuratedmoulding having spaced apart raised nodes, wherein said feed meanscomprises a longitudinal extension on top of said upper platform, saidextension having vertically upstanding side walls, a longitudinalchannel afiixed to said side walls, said channels comprising trackswithin which an endless roller chain is carried, a sprocket at eachlongitudinal end of said extension, said roller chain passing aroundsaid sprockets, one of said sprockets being motor driven, a longitudinalhorizontal slot along the full length of each of said side walls, saidslot communicating with said channels, and a pusher link carried by saidroller chain, said pusher link extending outward from said channelthrough said slot for engaging a rear end of said stock.

2. In a simulated bamboo picture frame moulding machine the combinationas set forth in claim 1 wherein cutter elements comprises a node cutter,a longitudinal groover, a vertical cutter, a dado cutter and a sandereach of which in sequence respectively engages said stock.

3. In a simulated bamboo picture frame moulding machine the combinationas set forth in claim 2 wherein a top hold down guide is provided tobear said stock against said upper platform and a side hold down guideis provided to bear said stock against said channel side wall.

4. In a simulated bamboo picture frame moulding machine combination asset forth in claim 1 wherein said cutter elements comprise a node cutterblade, a longitudinal groover, a vertical cutter and dado cutter whichsuccessively engage said stock, said node cutter blade and saidlongitudinal grooyer being mounted at the upper ends of rotatablevertical shafts having pulleys at the lower ends of said shafts, saidpulleys being driven by motor driven belts, a node cutting mechanismassociated with said node cutter blade, said mechanism including a ballbearing idler engaging three pins on disc mounted on a third sprocketengaged by said endless roller chain, said pins causing said nodes to beformed equidistant apart, an adjusting screw and stop to regulate thedesired raise of each node, said stop controlling a hinged first arm toprovide horizontal reciprocating movement of said cutter blade, andspring holding said arm against said stop; an adjustable cam mounted ona fourth sprocket engaged by said endless roller chain said cam drivingan idler, said idler driving a second arm horizontally back and forth,the movement of said second arm being transmitted to said longitudinalgroover to cut a small groove in said stock between said nodes and thenmove out of the way to allow two nodes to pass and then again re-engagesaid stock, and a spring to hold said second arm against said cam; saidvertical cutter being mounted on a horizontal shaft supported onbrackets, a pulley on said horizontal shaft engaged by a motor drivenbelt; and said dado cutter being provided with a first adjustmentmechanism to adjust the width of a cut being made and a secondadjustment mechanism to adjust the depth of a cut being made.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,786,039 12/1930 Sylva 143491,825,041 9/ 1931 Babare. 2,117,691 5/1938 Westlund 14349 2,662,56312/1953 Grove. 3,259,157 7/1966 LRunnion 144XR WILLIAM W. DYER, JR.,Primary Examiner.

W. D. BRAY, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN A SIMULATED BAMBOO PICTURE FRAME MOULDING MACHINE THE COMBINATIONOF AN UPPER PLATFORM, A LOWER PLATFORM, A PLURALITY OF VERTICAL LEGSSUPPORTING SAID PLATFORMS IN ELEVATED POSITION, FEED MEANS FOR FEEDING ASTOCK ACROSS SAID UPPER PLATFORM THROUGH SAID MACHINE AND A PLURALITY OFCUTTER ELEMENTS CARRIED ON SAID MACHINE SAID CUTTER ELEMENTSSUCCESSIVELY ENGAGING SAID STOCK TO PRODUCE A BAMBOO CONFIGURATEDMOULDING HAVING SPACED APART RAISED NODES, WHEREIN SAID FEED MEANSCOMPRISES A LONGITUDINAL EXTENSION ON TOP OF SAID UPPER PLATFORM, SAIDEXTENSION HAVING VERTICALLY UPSTANDING SIDE WALLS, A LONGITUDINALCHANNEL AFFIXED TO SAID SIDE WALLS, SAID CHANNELS COMPRISING TRACKSWITHIN WHICH AN ENDLESS ROLLER CHAIN IS CARRIED, A SPROCKET AT EACHLONGITUDINAL END OF SAID EXTENSION, SAID ROLLER CHAIN PASSING AROUNDSAID SPROCKETS, ONE OF SAID SPROCKETS BEING MOTOR DRIVEN, A LONGITUDINALHORIZONTAL SLOT ALONG THE FULL LENGTH OF EACH OF SAID SIDE WALLS, SAIDSLOT COMMUNICATING WITH SAID CHANNELS, AND A PUSHER LINK CARRIED BY SAIDROLLER CHAIN, SAID PUSHER LINK EXTENDING OUTWARD FROM SAID CHANNELTHROUGH SAID SLOT FOR ENGAGING A REAR END OF SAID STOCK.